First, I'd like to clear up the terminology. Deploying Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) will now be augmented with a Stability/Support-Transition Team (S-TT). When a Brigade receives its S-TT augmentation, it becomes a Brigade Combat Team - Augmented (BCT-A). The exact composition of an S-TT will vary depending on the BCT’s mission in theater. S-TTs will be composed of between 16 and 48 Field Grade officers.

Second, I would like to address what the VCSA's message means to us. The bottom line is that we are beginning to do away with Transition Teams in their current form. Most field grade officers who were slated for transition teams will (instead of going to Ft. Polk or Ft. Riley as planned for a 3 month train-up) proceed to a selected BCT, train with that BCT for approximately 3 months, deploy with them for a year, redeploy, and then PCS to their HAAP location. The composition of their TT will be provided by organic assets from within the BCT.

TT requirements for MAJs, LTCs and COLs have increased while CPT requirements have decreased. Although there will be a remaining requirement to train a select few Transition Teams at Ft. Polk and Ft. Riley, augmented maneuver Brigade Combat Teams (BCT-As) will assume the vast majority of the TT training, command and control, and partnership responsibilities in Iraq. It is my personal belief that we will soon see these same changes incorporated into operations in Afghanistan.

...

The FY 10 Battalion Command slate will have over 30 LTCs selected to lead these teams within the BCT-A structure and receive credit for battalion command. For the remainder of the nearly 400 requirements, we will continue to use dwell, amount of time deployed, and required skills/experience to help determine which officers will be selected to serve this important mission. Officers interested in volunteering should contact their assignment officer to get more details.

The link has some more info about what units and timeframe this will happen over.

05-24-2009

jmm99

LoW, ROEs & the ethics/morality of warfare ...

While ruminating about in the above subject matter area, I came upon a thesis by Colonel Peter A. Newell, "Preparing the strategic sergeant for war in a flat world: Challenges in the application of ethics and the Rules of Engagement (ROE) in joint / multinational / multicultural operations" (20 May 2008), which is online at www.dtic.mil/. Googling also works.

In the usual run of things, I end up reading materials by active and retired JAG officers, and by I Law professors (some of them are actually OK). It was refreshing to see this subject approached by an infantry / armor officer who has no apparent legal background in his bio.